Storm hits Marin as more rain is on tap for Thursday

Marin was soaked by the first, and possibly the quickest, of three expected rainstorms Wednesday, causing minor flooding and numerous traffic collisions, but the weather cleared mid-day without leaving major damage behind.

A longer, wetter storm is forecast to hit the region sometime Thursday with rain increasing overnight into Friday. The rain is expected to reduce to showers Friday night before a third storm arrives Saturday.

The forecast led organizers to postpone a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and other outdoor festivities scheduled Friday in Tiburon. The Tiburon event's gingerbread house decorating will be held indoors and go on as planned.

As the heaviest rains fell in Marin on Wednesday morning, about a dozen traffic collisions kept first-responders busy but most did not cause injuries, California Highway Patrol spokesman Eric Hohmeister said. Flooding was reported in several locations, including the northbound Highway 101 offramp for Sir Francis Drake Boulevard the northbound lanes in downtown San Rafael and near North San Pedro Road, according to the CHP.

A total of 0.8 inches of rain fell in San Rafael and Kentfield on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service, and 1.8 inches were recorded in Olema. The North Marin Water District recorded 0.9 inches at Stafford Lake in Novato.

"It looks like we got an inch between 9 and 10 a.m.," said Rob Carson, a water quality program manager for the Tomales Bay Watershed Council, who was monitoring storm water in Bolinas during the rain. "It dumped for almost an hour — heavy, heavy downpour."

Gusts of 56 mph blew in Point Reyes and 40 mph in Sausalito, according to the weather service.

In San Rafael, flooding caused an SUV to hydroplane into a soundwall and careen across several lanes of traffic on Highway 101 at North San Pedro Road at about 11 a.m., temporarily blocking the roadway, Hohmeister said. The driver was transported to Marin General Hospital with neck and back pain.

Several non-injury collisions occurred in the same location, and many other non-injury collisions took place on the highway between San Rafael and Mill Valley amid heavy rain Wednesday morning.

Major delays of almost four hours were reported for arriving flights at San Francisco International Airport as winds surged in coastal areas, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The late arrivals were also causing delays in departures; travelers were advised to call their airline before heading to the airport.